The summer is giving way to a quieter time in Chautauqua county.The pandemonium of the summerfest activities at Chautauqua Institution and beyond the gates has subsided. Those who know the county in the Fall season are settling into the luxuries of a different tenor.As autumn colors seep over the landscape and the air turns so crisp, it feels therapeutic, its time for all good crafters to think about the pleasures of new projects and new materials. At Imagine! you can curl up with an inspiring magazine and sip a hot drink as you contemplate what kind of yarn to use for your new hat pattern from Jenny Watson. New yarn from Madeline Tosh is expected any day and that would be a great paring with the ruffled scarf pattern from Chruchmouse Patterns.  We have lush fibers from Mirasol that you could fashion into those great fingerless gloves from Louisa Harding.
 I just finished a pair of fingerless gloves (the better to text you with, my dear) in Hacho, a multi- colored dk weight wool from Mirasol. Hacho had been discontinued but there was an outcry and now it is back with more colorways. We have a nice new color that just arrived this week, earth tones mixed with a cream base. Mirasol yarns are lush Peruvian fibers and the sales from their products go to support the educating of the shepherd children. Its a delight to knit with and has a springy coil so it stays where you knit it while you knit it. I used a great pattern by Joan Debolt which has a ruffle along the bottom. It was a fun way to review short rows and made me realize it would be a nice way to add ruffles to other projects. We have the yarn and the patterns at the store if you want to give it a try. 

Its been 4 1/2 years since we started Imagine! arts boutique and its turned out to have a life of its own. Kinda like having a child that takes off in a direction that you hadn't seen coming but is more original and wonderful than you Imagined.
 Imagine! continues to be a place where you can shop for hand crafted items from the county or the country and Canada or find elegant antiques and jewelry. Its also a place where you can make your own wonderful art. We have supplies for knitting, beading, glass fusing and more and we offer classes listed on our web site www.imagineinbemus.com

First off, I have to tell you that we were thrilled and honored to find out that Imagine! was featured as only one of 11 "Not to be missed boutiques" in the Holiday Shopping issue of Great Lakes Life magazine http://www.erielifemagazine.com  The shops included were as far north as Buffalo, as far south as Pittsburgh and as far west as Westlake Ohio. I kept blinking at the page with the listing and thought somebody better pinch me, this might be a dream. And here's the kicker, I don't know how it happened...very classic- some undercover shopping sleuth with cutting edge taste gave us the dizzying "advance to go" nod. Thank you, sleuth, and thank you Imagine! friends and fans.  You know what this means? You have totally encouraged us so we are off with new energy to up the ante (again.)..but we need your input...what is your wish list for our little journey together. We are trying to make space for shopping and for creating that is comfortable, inspiring and most of all that you can share with us and with friends. We are interested in your thoughts and ideas.

And to that end....we are completely remodeling the former kitchen space and painting it an unapologetic PURPLE..Here is a picture of one of the walls with our little switch plates added.We're dedicating a cozy space with cushioned comfort for you to curl up in and we are filling our lending library with dvds, magazine and books...
the coffee/tea makers are in the same room ,so help yourself. Bring your project to work on or not ..come hang out with us....

Meantime, its off to trade shows to learn and to shop so we can bring back the very best and latest for you.First its Buyers Market of American Crafts in Philadelphia in Frebuary. This is a pretty exciting market that we are going to ferret because all of the work featured in the approximately 650 booths are hand-made. And they are juried so the quality of the work is extraordinary but no necessarily expensive. In March we go to Columbus for those great little gifty items like the funky, fabulous purses we got this year from Rivertide.
Then we are going to scour the Bead Market in Minneapolis at the Bead and Button Show. This is a great place for inspiration for projects we want to bring to you in the way of classes and kits.Then its the annual The National Needlework Assoc. show where we buy yarn, accessories and see all the new trends... 
If you have a particular interest, let us know so we can shop just for you.

Well, that's all for now but I promise to keep you up dated. Meantime, please let us know if you have questions or suggestions  we want to here them and thank you for making Imagine! so much fun. Myriam

Here's a link to our Spring/Summer Newsletter and a SALE

http://www.imagineinbemus.com/db/images/docs/newsletter-2010.pdf

   The Felt Making Week-End with Carol Cypher at Imagine! was a magical and wonderful experience. Carol is delightful,kind and great fun. She is articulate and a generous expert in her field. She taught the class how exciting it is to make felt and then to embellish it with beads to make gorgeous jewelry and accessories.
Here is a picture of Mary Jane's bracelet. It is felted, then cut to reveal the center colors and embroidered with beads.
 
Carol is animated when she teaches and that contributed to everyone's  enthusiasm
 
Rosemary and her mom, Mary Beth woked on lovely large flowers with beaded trim . Each student was able to complete several projects and therefore learned various skills. You can learn more about Carol and the workshop at her blog http://carolcypher.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html

Everyone agreed that we want her back. She coved so much in her two day sessions including needlefelting which was more intricate and bold than most of the craft work that we have seen. She shared several types of felting techniques and tips and she brought lush samples of her extraordinary work for inspiration. Carol has taught in Japan, Australia, England, Germany and all over the US. She has published 3 books which we carry at Imagine! and which she autographed for her students. We have become big fans and look forward to her coming back in the future. Look for listings on the  imagine web site.
To learn more about Carol visit her web site at  www.carolcypher.com   

 Darcy wore this beauty home....

  

 Famous Artist to teach in Bemus Point

 Carol Cypher, author of Felted Flower Jewelry, Mastering Beadwork and How We Felt, is an internationally known teacher. This winter she has travelled to Japan, Germany and London among other places. Carol is a favorite featured teacher at the Tucson Bead Fest as well as the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee, two of the nation’s biggest venues for jewelry making enthusiasts.  She has developed an intriguing technique for making sculptured jewelry using no-knit felting and beaded embellishments. On May 1st and 2nd, Carol will be offering a workshop for students at Imagine! in Bemus Point.

“I can’t believe we got her to come for classes. She is in great demand” said Lyn Harris, a wonderful artist in her own right. "Lyn has attended many fiber art workshops around the country and has heard Carol lecture in the past" “Beginners and advanced students may not get this kind of opportunity soon again. The workshops are two days long and each student will learn her fascinating and fun techniques” for more information class Imagine! At 386 2244. Seating is very limited.

  Here is what has been going on in Bemus Point this winter.. Gals from Jamestown,Westfield, Mayville , Dunkirtk and Erie, Pa have been visiting the store and some have been gathering to knit informally in the afternoons or take classes on Saturdays at Imagine! Here Amy McElrath models a versatile vest made by Sandy Cannone. This is flattering to all figure types and great to wear over jeans or dress it up over a skirt. The yarn is Katmandu Chunky from Queensland. The project goes quickly. Sandy is offering a class  by appointment so call if you need help with this one.
 Here is Amy again in a cabled turtlenect made with a combination of Lambs Pride Chunky and Crystal Palace Kid Seta mohair.  You don't need a jacket when you wear this warm outdoor sweater. 

One of our recent classes is a no-Knit class. Lyn has come up with a fancy felted soap (as seen in Anthropologie and other fancy stores). The girls made their own versions and here are some samples from that fun day. The soap is encased in roving, then felted (no knitting involved) then embellished with beads. Washing with the soap exfoliates the skin. They are beautiful and practical.
  The soaps pictured are student work from the class.
Darcy's soap, pink and girley
        Lyn and one of her students, Christy, enjoy a creative interchange.
  Cathy's soap is an earthy one 
 
Lyn will be offering more classes in felted soaps this spring and summer.

Here is a link to our Fall Winter Newsletter

http://www.imagineinbemus.com/db/images/docs/winter09.pdf

Sue Sampson made this sample pair for our store. They are gorgeous silk and wool fingerless gloves by Louisa Harding from her book Little Luxuries. They are particularly popular with the young girls who simply must TEXT at a moments notice and they are popular with anyone who just wants to celebrate being a girl.


Here is my little niece, Aoife,  visitng from Ireland, who shows us how they can look not only beautful be very rock n roll..


We have the yarn in 5 lush colors...........about $16.00 to make a pair..........they are done on two needles and go very quickly...

 

Here is a picture of Lyn Harris' fabulous felted hat creation. It is made without knitting but by using a wet technique that Lyn has taught in her classes.....but here is the best part, Lyn's lovely niece, Shannon,  is modeling it....They both look adorable. Stay tuned for felted hats  by Lyn for sale at the store this winter and a chance to learn to felt in one of her  felted bracelet classes (to be announced).